ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: Middle English hand grip, from Old English handgripe, from hand hand + gripe grip — more at hand , grip
1. : a grasping with the hand : handclasp
2. : something that is attached to or forms part of an object and is designed to be grasped by the hand in lifting the object: as
a. : handle
the handgrip of the revolver
a pot with two small projecting handgrips, one on each side
b. : hilt
the handgrip of a sword
c. : the outer usually projecting end of the arm of an armchair
it has nearly flat scrolled arms that … terminate in down-scrolled handgrips — T.H.Ormsbee
3. handgrips plural : close and usually critical or desperate struggle : hand-to-hand combat — usually used in the phrases at handgrips or come to handgrips
before they lost the town the soldiers were at handgrips with the enemy
the struggle was so evenly matched the soldiers came to handgrips before the issue was decided